City of Brantford Environmental Recognition Awards

About the Awards

The City of Brantford established the Brantford Environmental Recognition Awards in 2013. The City’s Environmental Policy Advisory Committee will call for nominations in a number of categories. The awards will be presented annually to adults and youths who have demonstrated environmental leadership.

Nomination Process

Nominations are received year round for the Environmental Recognition Awards, with the awards being distributed at a City Council Meeting around Earth Week. You can nominate yourself or anyone else by filling out the nomination form. Some questions do not apply to all categories and can be left blank. Provide supporting documents if available and provide contact information for yourself and the nominee. Nomination forms and supporting documents can be sent to epac@brantford.ca or dropped off at City Hall (100 Wellington Square).

NOMINATIONS ARE ACCEPTED ALL YEAR! Review for submissions is annually in March!

Categories

Lifetime Achievement honours an individual who has made a substantial contribution to green/environmental issues over many years, typically after many years of activity and measurable improvements in sustainability, education, advocacy, green infrastructure, or environmental clean ups and restoration.

Green Non-profit in Brantford recognizes a government agency, institution or non-profit organization for its contribution to maintaining a healthy environment. This is typically where educational and healthcare projects may apply. Examples include community gardens, community clean ups, initiatives which preserve and/or restore local ecosystems and wildlife habitats, and activism to establish and sustain protected areas. This also includes examples of non-profits that are taking the lead in improving the environmental sustainability of their products/services, administrative policies, programs and/or operations.

Green Business in Brantford honours a business for its focus on the green/environmental health of Brantford. The Green Business award recognizes businesses for excellence in green practices, strategies and products that benefit the city of Brantford. Examples of businesses eligible for this award include those that are taking the lead in improving the environmental sustainability of their products/services, business practices, programs and/or operations.

Greenest Family in Brantford recognizes a family for outstanding achievement in reducing its environmental footprint. These measures are limited to the family practices but might include an improved streetscape, water reductions, energy efficiency, clean ups and restorations of natural habitats, natural gardening practices and/or street wide green awareness.

Environmental Volunteer recognize those involved in environmental initiatives as a volunteer. This would apply to tree planting, river clean ups, awareness raising and advocacy through an organization, non-profit or institution. These are unpaid volunteer hours for green/environmental actions and projects.

The Young Environmental Champion Awards recognize the leadership of young people in projects which create a cleaner, greener Brantford. Examples of projects eligible for this award include those which naturalize school grounds, reduce waste, recycle, conserve energy, protect wildlife, fundraise, and educate others. Students are typically nominated by a teacher, parent, peers or educator.

Young Environmental Champion – Elementary Age recognizes children aged 6 to 13 years who demonstrate environmental leadership and impact.

Young Environmental Champion – Secondary Age recognizes young people aged 14 to 18 years who demonstrate environmental leadership and impact. Brantford’s youth are passionately involved in a variety of environmental initiatives within their schools, communities and organizations.

The Committee encourages nominations of individuals who have demonstrated leadership in projects that resulted in measurable improvements in preservation, conservation, sustainability, education, advocacy, green infrastructure, or environmental clean ups and restoration.

Eligibility Requirements & Rules

Individuals who are nominated must be a resident of the City of Brantford. If he or she is not, the project must directly contribute to improving the environment in Brantford.

Individuals may nominate themselves or be nominated by another person or group.

No project is too big or too small.

Nominations will be assessed by the Environmental Policy Advisory Committee.

The Committee is not obligated to issue awards in all categories regardless of applications received and holds the right to issue more than one award in any category.

Previous recipients of the Environmental Recognition Award are eligible for nomination again.

Elected officials are not eligible for the Environmental Recognition Award.

City of Brantford agencies, boards, commissions, special purpose bodies and City divisions are not eligible for the Award.

Selection Process

Award recipients will be selected by the Committee and the awards will be presented at a Council Meeting during Earth Week activities. Each award recipient's environmental achievements will be featured on the City's website and distributed to local media.